A lighting circuit assembly mounted in a shoe and controlled to produce a lighting effect, including a switch, a control unit, an oscillation resistor for flash frequency control, a plurality of LEDs controlled to flash by the control unit, and a plastic member of a particular design coated with a layer of light conductive material and attached to two LEDs to receive and refract light, the control unit having a selection circuit for selecting flash modes of the LEDs.

Patent
   5812063
Priority
Apr 01 1997
Filed
Apr 01 1997
Issued
Sep 22 1998
Expiry
Apr 01 2017
Assg.orig
Entity
Small
48
7
all paid
1. A lighting circuit assembly comprising a plurality of light emitting elements, a control unit controlled to drive said light emitting elements to flash, and a hollow plastic member internally coated with a layer of light conductive material and connected to a number of said light emitting elements to transmit light therefrom, said control unit comprising a selection circuit, a time sequence circuit, a timer circuit, a condition circuit, a counter circuit, a display circuit and a driver circuit, a switch connected to said condition circuit for controlling its condition, and an oscillation resistor connected to said time sequence circuit, said timer circuit having an output end connected to an input end of said condition circuit and an input end of said display circuit, and an input/output end connected to said time sequence circuit, said time sequence circuit having an output end connected to an input end of said selection circuit and an input end of said counter circuit, said selection circuit having an output end connected to said condition circuit, said condition circuit having an input end connected to said switch and an output end connected to an input end of said counter circuit, said counter circuit having an output end connected to an input end of said display circuit, said display circuit having an output end connected to an input end of said driver circuit, said driver circuit having an output end connected to said light emitting elements, said time sequence circuit being controlled by said oscillation resistor to provide a time pulse signal to said timer circuit said selection circuit and said counter circuit, said timer circuit being driven by said time sequence circuit to output an executive mode/stop mode control signal, said selection circuit being controlled to select one of a plurality of predetermined flash modes and to provide a corresponding output signal to said condition circuit subject to the time pulse signal received from said time sequence circuit, said condition circuit being controlled by said switch to provide waiting/working conditions, said timer circuit being turned to the executive mode when said condition circuit receives a triggering signal from said switch and is turned to said working condition, said counter circuit receiving the output signal of said condition circuit and the output signal of said time sequence circuit when at the executive mode, and controlled by the received signals to count up/down and to send the counting result to said display circuit, causing said display circuit to provide a flash signal to said light emitting elements through said driver circuit.
2. The lighting circuit assembly of claim 1 wherein said hollow plastic member is arranged to show a design.
3. The lighting circuit assembly of claim 1 wherein said light emitting elements are light emitting diodes.
4. The lighting circuit assembly of claim 1 wherein said condition circuit does not accept the triggering signal from said switch when it is at the working condition.
5. The lighting circuit assembly of claim 1 wherein the flash signal from said display circuit is repeated 2 to 5 times, and then said timer circuit enters the stop mode for 1 to 5 seconds.
6. The lighting circuit assembly of claim 1 wherein said light emitting elements are respectively covered with a respective shade.
7. The lighting circuit assembly of claim 1 wherein said selection circuit provides at least four flash modes.
8. The lighting circuit assembly of claim 7 wherein said light emitting elements are controlled to flash from the middle toward both sides.
9. The lighting circuit assembly of claim 7 wherein said light emitting elements are controlled to flash synchronously.
10. The lighting circuit assembly of claim 7 wherein said light emitting elements are controlled to flash from the left to the right and then from the right to the left.
11. The lighting circuit assembly of claim 7 wherein said light emitting elements are arranged into an odd number group and an even number group, the light emitting elements of odd number group and the light emitting elements of even number group being controlled to flash alternatively.

The present invention relates to a lighting circuit assembly for shoes, and more particularly to such a lighting circuit assembly which comprises a hollow plastic member of a particular design coated with a layer of light conductive material and attached to two LEDs thereof to receive and refract light.

FIG. 1 shows a lighting circuit assembly for shoes according to the prior art. This lighting circuit assembly comprises a switch 2', a control unit 3' controlled by the switch 2' to drive a plurality of LEDs (light emitting diodes) 5', causing them to flash, and an oscillation resistor 4' adapted for regulating the flashing speed of the LEDs 5'. The control unit 3' is triggered by a triggering signal from the switch 2' to drive the LEDs 5', causing the LEDs 5' to flash at one of four flashing modes. The flashing frequency of the LEDs 5' is controlled at one per every 1 to 5 seconds.

The present invention provides a lighting circuit assembly mounted in a shoe and controlled to produce a lighting effect, including a switch, a control unit, an oscillation resistor for flash frequency control, a plurality of LEDs controlled to flash by the control unit, and a plastic member of a particular design coated with layer of light conductive material and attached to two LEDs to receive and refract light, the control unit having a selection circuit for selecting flash modes of the LEDs. When light passes through the hollow plastic member, a fantastic lighting effect is produced.

FIG. 1 is a lighting circuit assembly for shoes according to the prior art;

FIG. 2 is a lighting circuit assembly for shoes according to the present invention;

FIG. 2A is a cutaway of a plastic member according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a circuit block diagram of the control unit according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an operation flow chart of the control unit according to the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is an applied view of the present invention, showing the lighting circuit assembly installed in a shoe.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, a lighting circuit assembly in accordance with the present invention is generally comprised of a switch 2, a control unit 3, an oscillation resistor 4, a plurality of LEDs (light emitting diodes) 5, and a plastic member 6. The LEDs 5 are respectively connected to the output end of the control unit 3. The plastic member 6 is covered on to for example two of the LEDs 5, having an inside wall coated with a layer of light conductive material 61 (see FIG. 2). By means of the control of the control unit 3, the LEDs 5 are driven to flash, and light from the respective LEDs 5 is transmitted through the plastic member 6, thereby causing a lighting effect to be produced. Further, the plastic member 6 can be arranged to show a pattern, words, etc.

Referring to FIG. 3 again, the control unit 3 comprises a selection circuit 31, a time sequence circuit 32, a timer circuit 33, a condition circuit 34, a counter circuit 35, a display circuit 36, and a driver circuit 37. The timer circuit 33 has an output end connected to an input end of the condition circuit 34 and an input end of the display circuit 36, and an input/output end connected to the time sequence circuit 32. The aforesaid oscillation resistor 4 is connected to the time sequence circuit 32. The time sequence circuit 32 has an output end connected to an input end of the selection circuit 31 and an input end of the counter circuit 35. The selection circuit 31 has an input end connected to a flash control 1, and an output end connected to the condition circuit 34. The condition circuit 34 has an input end connected to the switch 2, and an output end connected to an input end of the counter circuit 35. The counter circuit 35 has an output end connected to an input end of the display circuit 36. The display circuit 36 has an output end connected to an input end of the driver circuit 37. The driver circuit 37 has an output end connected to the LEDs 5. The time sequence circuit 32 is controlled to provide a time pulse signal. The oscillation resistor 4 can be controlled to regulate the frequency of the time pulse signal of the time sequence circuit 32, so as to regulate the flashing speed of the LEDs 5. The timer circuit 33 receives the time pulse signal of the time sequence circuit 32, and drives the control unit 3 to output an executive mode control signal or stop mode control signal. The selection circuit 31 is controlled by one of the four contacts of the flash control 1 to select one of four flash modes, and to provide an output signal to the condition circuit 34 subject to the time pulse signal received from the time sequence circuit 32. The four flash modes include:

Mode 1

The LEDs are controlled to flash from the middle toward both sides.

Mode 2

The LEDs are controlled to flash synchronously.

Mode 3

The LEDs are controlled to flash from the left to the right and then from the right to the left.

Mode 4

The LEDs of odd number and the LEDs of even number are controlled to flash alternatively.

The condition circuit 34 provides waiting/working conditions. The operation flow chart of the condition circuit 34 is shown in FIG. 4. When started, the condition circuit 34 is at the waiting condition. When a triggering signal is received by the condition circuit 34 from the switch 2, the condition circuit 34 is immediately turned to the working condition to match with the executive mold/stop mode of the timer circuit 33. When at the executive mode, the counter circuit 35 receives the output signal of the condition circuit 34 and the output signal of the time sequence circuit 32, and is controlled by the received signals to count up/down and to send the counting result to the display circuit 36, causing the display circuit 36 to provide a flash signal to the LEDs 35 through the driver circuit 37. This flash signal is repeated 2 to 5 times, and then the timer circuit 33 enters the stop mode. When the timer circuit 33 enters the stop mode, it stops the display circuit 36 from giving an output signal to the driver circuit 37, and then the condition circuit 31 returns to the waiting condition 1 to 5 seconds after the LEDs 5 are off. When at the working condition, the condition circuit 34 does not accept the triggering signal of the switch 2.

Referring to FIG. 5, a shade 7 may be respectively covered on each LED 5. The shade 7 can have any of a variety of shapes.

It is to be understood that the drawings are designed for purposes of illustration only, and are not intended as a definition of the limits and scope of the invention disclosed.

Weng, Ming-Bi, Chang, Ming-Ta

Patent Priority Assignee Title
10010129, May 28 2015 NIKE, Inc Lockout feature for a control device
10159298, Feb 11 2010 Nike, Inc. Article of footwear incorporating an illuminable panel
10477911, May 02 2008 NIKE, Inc Article of footwear and charging system
10595582, May 28 2015 Nike, Inc. Lockout feature for a control device
10841993, Jun 19 2015 Nike, Inc. Method of illuminating an article
10918164, May 02 2008 Nike, Inc. Lacing system with guide elements
11172726, May 02 2008 Nike, Inc. Article of footwear and charging system
11206891, May 02 2008 NIKE, Inc Article of footwear and a method of assembly of the article of footwear
11266200, May 28 2015 Nike, Inc. Lockout feature for a control device
11483915, Sep 23 2020 FULLY ELECTRONICS CO., LTD Shoe light device capable of flashing in different modes and driving method thereof
11533967, May 02 2008 Nike, Inc. Automatic lacing system
11723436, May 02 2008 Nike, Inc. Article of footwear and charging system
11729890, Sep 23 2020 FULLY ELECTRONICS CO., LTD. Shoe light device capable of flashing in different modes and driving method thereof
11793266, May 28 2015 Nike, Inc. Lockout feature for a control device
11882905, May 02 2008 Nike, Inc. Automatic lacing system
5930921, Feb 18 1998 Brown Group, Inc. Illuminated shoe
6443590, Apr 07 1999 LOVITT FILMS, INC Article with animated display
6906472, Sep 04 2002 CHEERINE DEVELOPMENT HONG KONG LTD Articles with flashing lights
6974225, Apr 24 2003 Sequence lighting system for footwear
7004598, Feb 18 2003 CHEERINE DEVELOPMENT HONG KONG LTD Flashing light system with power selection
7029140, Dec 23 2003 CHEERINE DEVELOPMENT HONG KONG LTD Flashing light system with multiple voltages
7057354, Sep 15 2003 CHEERINE DEVELOPMENT HONG KONG LIMITED Frequency controlled lighting system
7059739, Oct 17 2002 CHEERINE DEVELOPMENT HONG KONG LTD Skates with flashing lights
7067986, Sep 15 2003 CHEERINE DEVELOPMENT HONG KONG LIMITED Frequency controlled lighting system
7096607, Jan 08 2004 BBC International LLC Clothing with externally activated switch
7114822, Nov 12 2004 BBC International LLC Article of footwear with remote sound activating unit
7170019, Jul 14 2003 CHEERINE DEVELOPMENT HONG KONG LTD Inertia switch and flashing light system
7178929, Nov 12 2004 BBC International LLC Light and sound producing system
7207688, Aug 18 2005 CHEERINE DEVELOPMENT HONG KONG LTD Interactive shoe light device
7254910, Jan 08 2004 BBC International LLC Footwear with externally activated switch
7481010, Dec 28 2005 Shoe having light device
7611259, Dec 28 2005 Light assembly having changing light
7857477, Apr 03 2008 BBC Internatinoal LLC; BBC International LLC Article of clothing with washable light module
7997007, Sep 15 2006 EARLY SUCCESS, INC Stimulus training system and apparatus to effectuate therapeutic treatment
8056269, May 02 2008 NIKE, Inc Article of footwear with lighting system
8058837, May 02 2008 NIKE, Inc Charging system for an article of footwear
8069589, May 23 2008 BBC International LLC Footwear with lighted laces
8356430, Feb 11 2010 NIKE, Inc Article of footwear incorporating an illuminable fluid-filled chamber
8453357, Feb 11 2010 NIKE, Inc Article of footwear incorporating illuminable strands
8469535, Jun 17 2010 BBC International LLC Interactive lighted footwear
8528235, May 02 2008 Nike, Inc. Article of footwear with lighting system
8544197, Feb 11 2010 NIKE, Inc Article of footwear incorporating an illuminable panel
8813395, Feb 11 2010 Nike, Inc. Article of footwear incorporating illuminable strands
8919776, Apr 24 2012 BBC International LLC Article of footwear with maze
9351538, Feb 11 2010 Nike, Inc. Article of footwear incorporating an illuminable panel
9364045, Feb 11 2010 Nike, Inc. Article of footwear incorporating an illuminable panel
9907359, May 02 2008 NIKE, Inc Lacing system with guide elements
9943139, May 02 2008 Nike, Inc. Automatic lacing system
Patent Priority Assignee Title
5052131, Oct 26 1989 Strapped footwear with decorative lighting
5546681, Feb 05 1993 CONGRESS FINANCIAL CORPORATION WESTERN Footwear with flashing lights
5588734, Jul 06 1995 Side light for in-line roller skate
5599088, Aug 21 1995 Flashing footwear light module
5663614, Feb 13 1996 Lighting circuit module for a shoe
5664346, May 04 1994 Portable footwear illuminated
WO9415494,
Executed onAssignorAssigneeConveyanceFrameReelDoc
Date Maintenance Fee Events
Mar 20 2002M283: Payment of Maintenance Fee, 4th Yr, Small Entity.
Mar 01 2006M2552: Payment of Maintenance Fee, 8th Yr, Small Entity.
Apr 26 2010REM: Maintenance Fee Reminder Mailed.
Sep 08 2010M2553: Payment of Maintenance Fee, 12th Yr, Small Entity.
Sep 08 2010M2556: 11.5 yr surcharge- late pmt w/in 6 mo, Small Entity.


Date Maintenance Schedule
Sep 22 20014 years fee payment window open
Mar 22 20026 months grace period start (w surcharge)
Sep 22 2002patent expiry (for year 4)
Sep 22 20042 years to revive unintentionally abandoned end. (for year 4)
Sep 22 20058 years fee payment window open
Mar 22 20066 months grace period start (w surcharge)
Sep 22 2006patent expiry (for year 8)
Sep 22 20082 years to revive unintentionally abandoned end. (for year 8)
Sep 22 200912 years fee payment window open
Mar 22 20106 months grace period start (w surcharge)
Sep 22 2010patent expiry (for year 12)
Sep 22 20122 years to revive unintentionally abandoned end. (for year 12)